Commute from Springfield neighborhood to St Johns Town Center (Jacksonville: 2013, how much)

[Jacksonville Bound]

We are relocating to Jacksonville and considering the purchase of a home in the Springfield neighborhood. Can someone tell us how long/difficult the commute is between Springfield and the St. Joihns Town Center area?

[madcapmagishion]

30 minutes, and not too bad depending on time of day.

[Jacksonville Bound]

We had heard that traffic can often get jammed up on the bridge. Do you know if this is a frequent problem?

[madcapmagishion]

See my above post ... "depending on time of day" From 7:30AM to about 8:45AM going toward's the Town Center will be heavy but not "bad" as most traffic is heading into town at that time. From 4:45PM - 6:15PM the same thing happens in reverse everyone is headed out of town and your headed into town so it's heavy but not bad. The bridges are the weak point as even a small fender bender in either direction can severely screw up the flow.

We really need more info to give you a more accurate assessment on the traffic.

[Jacksonville Bound]

Well, I guess the issue is this: Wile it may be about 30 minutes between Springfield and the Town Center area during non-peak commuting times, is it pretty consistently longer/more difficult during peak commuting times. If so, by how much?

For example, if it is consistently closer to 60 minutes during peak commute times, then that's something important to know. Or even if it's not consistently jammed up, does it get jammed up often enough (e.g., 2-3 times a week) that it becomes hard to plan your time. (Or we just have to assume it will be 1 hour and then be pleasantly surprised when it's less.)

I know we're asking for generalizations, but we need the perspective of people familiar with that commute.

[fsu813]

Originally Posted by Jacksonville Bound

We are relocating to Jacksonville and considering the purchase of a home in the Springfield neighborhood. Can someone tell us how long/difficult the commute is between Springfield and the St. Joihns Town Center area?

It's about 15-20 minutes max. It takes a solid 30 to get to the Beaches, and the SJ Towncenter is well before that.

During rush hour, add 5-10 minutes.

The bridges (you can take either the Main Street bridge or the I-95 Fuller Warren bridge) do become slow while your actually on the bridge, but nothing like traditional big-city grinding traffic.

One of the few spots that does have significant traffic build up at times is the JTB exit off of I-95, which you would take to get to the SJTC. However, if you live anywhere North of the SJTC, you'll have to take this exit anyways.

If you haven't done so already, check out www.myspringfield.org

It's a neighborhood website specifically for the Springfield historic district and has all kinds of good photos, discussion forum, event calendar, interviews, news, etc.

And i'd also "Like" the SPAR facebook page, the major organization the neighborhood: //www.facebook.com/pages/Spring...R/307036889004 to keep abreast of happenings.

The Spring Home & Garden is coming up too, in mid-May, which is an ideal to physically check out the neighborhood as well:
34th Annual Springfield Home & Garden Tour - Eventbrite




The Springfield historic district, and the other eclectic, historic, walkable/bikeable neighborhoods that surronding Downtown (San Marco, Riverside & Avondale historic district) are a hobby of mine, so I have tons of info, maps, articles, etc regarding these unique areas. Just ask.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by Jacksonville Bound

Well, I guess the issue is this: Wile it may be about 30 minutes between Springfield and the Town Center area during non-peak commuting times, is it pretty consistently longer/more difficult during peak commuting times. If so, by how much?

For example, if it is consistently closer to 60 minutes during peak commute times, then that's something important to know. Or even if it's not consistently jammed up, does it get jammed up often enough (e.g., 2-3 times a week) that it becomes hard to plan your time. (Or we just have to assume it will be 1 hour and then be pleasantly surprised when it's less.)

I know we're asking for generalizations, but we need the perspective of people familiar with that commute.

No! The time I gave 30 minutes is at rush hour. During non-peak hours it can take as little as 15 minutes.

Originally Posted by fsu813

It's about 15-20 minutes max. It takes a solid 30 to get to the Beaches, and the SJ Towncenter is well before that.

During rush hour, add 5-10 minutes.

You got a faster schwinn?

Originally Posted by fsu813

The bridges (you can take either the Main Street bridge or the I-95 Fuller Warren bridge) do become slow while your actually on the bridge, but nothing like traditional big-city grinding traffic.

Yes you can take either the Main Street Bridge or the Fuller Warren (I-95) Bridge, or you could just shoot across the Matthews bridge and hit 9-A south and go the back way to the SJTC.

[Robyn55]

I think fsu813 is right - 15-20 minutes with no traffic. How much traffic there is at rush hour - and how much longer the drive becomes - I don't know - because I'm retired.

Note that if you have to get off JTB at Gate Parkway - it can be pretty much bumper to bumper all day - and add time to your trip. So this depends in part on your exact route.

I do know there is major construction planned on I-95 both in Duval and St. Johns County starting around 2012-2013. Could be held up by budget considerations. This would obviously make a big difference in terms of travel times. You can google I-95 construction - find the appropriate transportation website - and find out the current status of proposed projects. Robyn